A few years ago, I came across a reader’s tip in Parents magazine to use a plastic office chair mat as a high chair floor mat. It made a lot of sense to me, because we were already on our third high chair mat and they had all been hard to clean and keep in place. My husband immediately realized the benefits of an office chair mat too, so I promptly went out to Staples and bought the largest one they had – 46 x 60 inches and about $70. Not cheap, but not much more expensive than the three high chair mats we’d already gone through.

It turns out the money was well spent. Several years later, we’re still using the same mat under our dining table where the boys now sit. It’s easy to clean and in fact, I can vacuum right over it. Plus, because it’s clear, it’s not an eyesore. We’ll probably leave it in place for the next three years or so, or until the boys are much better about not dropping food on the floor!

Find more Works for Me Wednesday tips at We are THAT Family.

Even though it’s still warm during the day here in Southern California, it’s now quite chilly at night and first thing in the morning. I usually pop Tyler into a mei tai so I can wear him and keep my hands free as we walk from the car to his day care. I found that bundling him up before putting him into the carrier made it difficult to get the straps really tight, so instead I pulled out my maternity coat, which is roomy enough for me to zip up over both of us. Now we both stay warm, cozy and secure.